E. Coli-Tainted Beef Recalled In New Jersey, Elsewhere

Memorial Day grillmasters in New Jersey beware: More than 62,000 pounds of beef have been recalled in New Jersey and elsewhere because of fears the meat could be contaminated with E. coli. So check those labels before serving up tainted patties this weekend.

Federal health officials announced Wednesday that the raw beef products that were packaged April 19 were recalled. The recalled products contain the establishment number “EST. 788” inside the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s mark of inspection.

There have been no reported cases of people failing sick, but federal health officials are urging consumers to check the labels (see link to labels below).

It's not clear if the recall is connected to the nearly 200 people across 10 states who have fallen ill with a strain of E. coli. At least two other companies have recalled thousands of pounds of meat, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At least 21 had to be hospitalized in all. No deaths have been reported.

A list of specific states where the nearly recalled products were shipped wasn’t immediately available. The USDA said the beef was distributed nationwide by the Aurora Packing Company in Illinois.

A random sample test uncovered the possible E. coli contamination, the USDA said.

Anyone who bought the beef should throw it out or return it to the place of purchase.

Escherichia coli, abbreviated as E. coli, are bacteria found in the environment, food and intestines of people and animals, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most strains are harmless but some can cause you to fall ill and experience diarrhea, urinary tract infections, respiratory illness and pneumonia, among other symptoms.

Click here to see the recalled labels.

Patch staffers Dan Hampton and Shannon Antinori contributed to this report.